No one wants to see their pet dealing with discomfort or anxiety, but it can be a fact of life from time to time. Our pets can become anxious for a variety of reasons, many of which are beyond our control. Learning how to help them relax when something stressful is going on is essential, though it can take some trial and error to find out what techniques and products work best. The good news is that there are plenty of resources available, both online and off, that can teach you how to soothe your pets. If you need some help, keep reading to learn more about how you can help your nervous furry friend chill out.
How can you help your nervous furry friend relax?
Every pet is different, so keep in mind that you may need to engage in some experimentation. Shirts and coats that provide some form of compression are a common solution, which many animals find helpful. Exercise can also be beneficial, but if your pet is nervous about a storm going on outside, that may not be possible. Smaller adjustments, like providing physical contact or playing music, can be useful too.
Though further study is needed to determine its precise effects, many pet owners have had positive experiences with CBD oil for pets. It’s always smart to look for products that are designed for use in animals and to make sure the brand you’re purchasing products from is trustworthy. The differences in potency and quality can be significant depending on which products you buy. Customer reviews are often the best way to find out about the actual experience of using a product.
Before changing your pet’s routine in any way, it’s a good idea to check in with your veterinarian. Your vet can tell you exactly how products like CBD oil may affect your pet’s health condition or interact with any medications they’re currently taking. You can also ask about products as well as proper dosage if they’re well informed about the use of cannabis in pets.
What else should you know about CBD?
For those who aren’t familiar, CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. The manufacture and sale of hemp and hemp derivatives like CBD were legalized on a federal level in the United States through the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, though CBD products are prohibited from containing more than .3 percent THC. Although CBD’s visibility and profitability is primarily due to use by humans, pet products have grown increasingly popular in recent years.
Though there have been more clinical studies aimed at identifying uses for CBD in humans, there has been researched into the use of cannabidiol in animals. For example, scientists gave osteoarthritic dogs CBD over the course of a four-week, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study and found that it actually reduced pain and inflammation, without any significant detrimental impact. Though there is just one study, it has inspired confidence that there could be additional medical applications for the use of CBD in pets. Experts are optimistic that we’ll learn much more in the coming years.
There’s a lot that goes into pet care, and it can be particularly difficult to know what to do when your pet is nervous about something and you’re not sure what it is. Fortunately, there are several different strategies you can try, and a wide array of products that are designed to help soothe your pet. It’s always best to discuss any issues you’re having with your vet first, as they can provide recommendations based on the knowledge they have of your furry friend. You may just find that CBD is a positive addition to your pet’s routine.
